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I’m in my wildflower era. So, when I discovered that Crested Butte is known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, I knew exactly where my summer road trip would lead. I pictured my social media feed blooming with magical shots of my senior pup, Radcliff, and me nestled in fields of color.
The trip happened—but not quite as I imagined.
With Radcliff buckled in beside me, I packed up the car and left Southwest Florida for the Centennial State. Over two weeks and more than 5,000 miles, we chased mountain views, sniffed out dog-friendly stops, and made unforgettable memories. Our journey was filled with surprises, detours, and moments of quiet joy. And while the wildflowers didn’t unfold exactly as planned, the adventure bloomed in its own beautiful way.
Following are the dog-friendly stops we enjoyed in Colorado, in chronological order.
Dog-Friendly Stops in Colorado
“Sun Spot,” Denver
The first full day in Colorado was spent with family in Loveland and Denver. After that, our adventure continued. Heading out of Denver, we stopped at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter to admire “Sun Spot,” a 25-foot-tall sculpture adorned with more than 90,000 stainless steel pet tags.
Installed in 2011, the seated canine represents every dog. Inside the shelter, which wasn’t open when we arrived, is the second part of the sculpture, a 6-foot-wide collar sculpture suspended from the ceiling. (1241 W Bayaud Ave., Denver, CO 80223)
South Valley Park, Littleton
Admittedly, this Jefferson County park was not my first choice for a dog-friendly hike, but it should have been. In my planning, I identified what I thought were a couple of canine-welcoming parks with gorgeous views, one being a state park. We drove 45 minutes to a particular park only to see the sign where dogs were prohibited.
Shoot! How did I miss this when planning? No worries. I had a backup plan, South Valley Park, about a 30-minute drive.
Radcliff could care less where we hiked, and I didn’t have much planned for this day. We parked at the North Trailhead to spend time on the Swallow Trail where we admired the red rock sandstone formations. Gorgeous. The scenery reminded me a bit of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. (13250 Valley Rd, Littleton, CO 80127)
Georgetown and Guanella Pass
We headed west on I-70 for an overnight stay in Silverthorne and a highway sign indicating a bighorn sheep viewing area pulled me into the historic town of Georgetown. We walked a bit along Georgetown Lake and downtown but never found the viewing area.
That’s okay. Downtown Georgetown is stinking cute! Established as a mining camp during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, the downtown has stunning Victorian architecture. Although dogs aren’t allowed inside businesses and restaurants, they’re allowed in eateries with outdoor dining.
I popped my head into the Georgetown Energy Museum to learn a little bit about hydroelectricity from the museum guide. I work in utilities, so the visit was interesting, especially since where I work, we don’t generate hydroelectricity. The museum guide recommended a drive up Guanella Pass Scenic Byway so off we were, and wow!
The views on the way up, down and at the top were incredibly stunning. The pass is 11,669 feet and we stopped at the Guanella Pass Trailhead to stretch our legs while soaking up the breathtaking mountain beauty. The cool air is exactly what I was seeking. I drank in the idyllic scenery, almost too perfect to be real: a lake at the base of the lightly snowcapped mountain and green foothills topped with shrubs, trees, and dainty yellow flowers.
The trailhead is a starting point along the Bierstadt Trail, which leads to Mount Bierstadt, one of Colorado’s 14ers (elevation is 14,062 feet). We didn’t do much hiking and saw serious hikers, including some with four paws. (Note: Guanella Pass Scenic Byway is a 22-mile road and usually open Memorial Day Weekend and closes on about November 26.)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, North & South Rims
All respectable road trips must include a visit to at least one national park (I made that up) and we managed to explore Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Words, photos, and 4k video can’t convey the park’s stunning beauty. Our visit was less than a week before wildfires ravaged through the park so I’m cherishing our visit even more.
Because the South Rim was closest to our stay in Paonia, we visited here first. It happened to be Independence Day so the visit seemed extra patriotic. The next day, we toured the North Rim, which is not as visited as the South Rim. It’s a 5-mile scenic ride along a gravel road so it’s a leisurely drive with spectacular views.
Both rims have one dog-friendly trail. I learned from a National Park Service ranger that all the lookout points are dog-friendly and most required a little bit of walking. This was paw-fect!
Radcliff doesn’t have the endurance for long hikes (we prepared for navigating high altitudes), especially at elevations above sea level, so our hiking adventures were brief with long rests. There were a few times where he felt bold and adventurous, peering over the edges and making me nervous. There were other times when he didn’t want to get out of the car, so he sat in the air conditioning while I took in the vistas. He’s such a good boy! (South Rim address: 9800 Hwy 347, Montrose, CO 81401; North Rim address: 7295 Black Canyon Road, Crawford, Colorado)
Brush Creek Trail in Gunnison National Forest, Crested Butte
The entire trip centered around the Brush Creek Trail in Gunnison National Forest, promising eye-popping blooms of wildflowers. It’s an in-and-out trail, 2.2 miles and rated for beginners so I thought it would be an easy adventure for Radcliff.
Wildflowers sprinkled both sides of the trail but less than a quarter mile in, my faithful companion stopped, turned around, and pulled me towards the parking area. There was no amount of persuading him to head down the trail. This is an unusual move for him and the only other time he’s ever done this was when we hiked the Rim Rock Trail in Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
I didn’t snap the photos I anticipated, those of Radcliff and I sitting in a sea of wildflowers with a mountain backdrop. Surprisingly, I wasn’t as disappointed as I thought I’d be. Life is about the journey, and we had already seen so many stunning sights and knew more were to come. We hopped in the car and drove through Crested Butte and up to Gothic (with a name like “Gothic,” I had to go), a former ghost town now home to the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab.
We saw flower-lined roadways and mountainsides blanketed with blooms. Most of the time, we just couldn’t stop and admire most of them. (Brush Creek Road-738, Crested Butte, CO 81224)
St. Elmo, the Ghost Town
I’m a child of the ‘80s and when I saw the sign for St. Elmo Ghost Town along US Hwy. 285, I immediately thought of the movie “St. Elmo’s Fire.” There’s no relation but the words “ghost town” piqued my curiosity.
It was a gorgeous drive over Chalk Creek Drive (County Road 162). Part of the road is paved with the final stretch to St. Elmo being dirt. The town was established in 1880 (there’s a connection to the ‘80s, just a 100-year difference!), and peak population was around 2,000. The last train left Saint Elmo in 1922. Today, it has a population of about a dozen people with over 40 buildings. It’s considered to be one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West.
Dogs are not permitted in the buildings, but we had a nice walk down to the schoolhouse and other buildings. A funny moment was when a pickup truck drove past us with a dog barking out the window and caught Radcliff’s attention. He turned around, started barking and tried pulling me towards the truck. Was his soulmate in that truck? We’ll never know.
Across from the St. Elmo General Store is a woodpile, home to chubby-cheeked chipmunks. You can hand-feed them, but dogs are not welcomed here. Purchase seeds from the general store, extend your hand, and then wait. Radcliff sat in my air-conditioned car while I fed the cute little critters. (St. Elmo General Store, 25865 County Road 162, Nathrop, CO 81236)
Tail-Wagging Memories in Colorado
As summer fades, the memories of our Colorado road trip remain as vibrant as the wildflowers we chased. Traveling with Radcliff—my aging, loyal companion—wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it. From glamping under cottonwoods to ghost towns and granite canyons, we shared quiet moments, unexpected detours, and tail-wagging joy.
We came home with more miles on the odometer, more fur in the car, and a deeper bond than ever before. Not every trail was walked, not every photo was captured—but every moment mattered. Radcliff’s recent surgery reminded me how precious our time together is, and how lucky I am to have shared this adventure with him.
The trip didn’t go exactly as planned. It went better. And I can’t wait to hit the road again—with Radcliff by my side, wherever the next trail leads.
More Summer Road Trip Adventures
There are more adventures to share, like some of the fun places we stayed and my favorite pet-friendly rest stops. On our way to Colorado, we stopped in Amarillo, Texas, to leave a mark at the dog-friendly Cadillac Ranch. And on our way home, we stopped at the International UFO Musuem in Roswell, New Mexico, another dog-friendly attraction. Keep checking back for more paw-tastic fun!
